The arrival of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 was supposed to signal a new era for fans who had long wished to see Square Enix’s acclaimed reimagining finally make its way to a Nintendo system. But as excitement grew, so did concerns — especially as new information continued to paint a clearer, and more daunting, picture of what owning the Switch 2 version of the game will actually require.
The latest update, coming directly from the official Final Fantasy 7 account on November 20, confirms that FF7 Remake Intergrade’s Standard Edition will take up 95GB of storage space on the Switch 2. Even more surprising is that the Limited Early Purchase and Digital Deluxe editions will occupy a staggering 99GB, pushing the game right up against the console’s practical storage limits. This makes it the single largest game ever released for a Nintendo system, dwarfing previous first‑party and third‑party titles across every generation of the company’s hardware.
Too Big for Cartridges: A New Switch 2 Bottleneck
The Switch 2 may bring substantial improvements over its predecessor, but one major limitation still remains: its cartridges. At present, physical Switch 2 game cards max out at 64GB, far below the required 95–99GB needed for FF7 Remake Intergrade. Even if players choose to purchase the physical boxed version, they will still be forced to download more than 30GB of additional data before the game becomes playable.
This confirms early fan suspicions from months ago, when listings first appeared revealing a 90GB file size. Now that the real numbers exceed even those estimates, many players are left questioning whether the Switch 2’s physical games are truly “physical” anymore, or if they are slowly trending toward becoming glorified partial installations.
Nintendo’s Game-Key Card solution — a hybrid between a cartridge license and a required download — has proven controversial from the moment it was announced. Fans argue it undermines game preservation, physical ownership, and collection value. With FF7 Remake Intergrade now showcasing one of the most extreme examples of this system, the debate has reignited with full force.
Storage Strain on the Switch 2
Even if players accept the hybrid physical/digital model, the Switch 2 faces another challenge: its internal storage. While Nintendo increased capacity dramatically over the original Switch, the Switch 2 only provides roughly 230GB of usable space, and that number doesn’t stretch far when single games begin consuming nearly half of the available memory.
Compared to its competitors, the Switch 2 sits at a storage disadvantage. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S offer significantly more base room for large installs, giving developers greater flexibility to ship content-heavy games. For FF7 Remake Intergrade, which already demands high-resolution textures, cinematic sequences, and detailed environments, the Switch 2’s storage limitations make the experience feel cramped before it even begins.
Players wanting to build a meaningful library will almost certainly require a high‑capacity microSD card, adding yet another expense on top of already high game prices and potential accessory costs.
Square Enix’s Changing Messaging
Square Enix originally built excitement when it confirmed at a major showcase event earlier in the year that Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade would debut on the Switch 2 in early 2026. However, optimism tapered off quickly as technical details emerged. First came the unexpected 90GB listing, then the revelation that the physical version would rely on Game-Key Cards, and now the confirmation that the real file size is even larger.
This progressive increase in required storage has left fans confused and concerned. Some criticize the publisher for what they see as unclear communication; others point to the Switch 2’s hardware limitations as the main culprit.
Nevertheless, Square Enix has attempted to reassure audiences. Before the revised file size became public, the game’s director defended the Game-Key Card format, claiming it would improve load times and ultimately “allow developers to bring high-end experiences to Switch players without compromising performance.” According to him, the increased flexibility offered by this system outweighs the downsides.
But for many longtime Nintendo fans — especially those who prefer physical media — those words haven’t been enough to quell skepticism.
Why the Switch 2 Version Is So Huge
On platforms like PS5 and PC, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade sits in roughly the same size range as the Switch 2 version. Much of its storage footprint comes from:
- High-resolution character models
- Dense cinematic cutscenes
- Massive semi‑open environments
- HDR textures
- Two full campaigns (Remake + Intermission)
- Enhanced lighting and particle effects
These assets are integral to delivering the experience that made the remake such a major success when it launched elsewhere. While Switch 2 users feared the game would suffer major visual downgrades, the enormous install size suggests the port has preserved far more of the high-quality content than expected.
That’s good news for players wanting the “real” remake experience — but bad news for anyone low on storage.
Community Reactions: Frustration Mixed With Curiosity
Predictably, the news has generated strong reactions. Many fans expressed disappointment online, arguing that Nintendo should have designed its next-gen hardware with larger cartridges and more internal storage from the start. Others felt misled after the initial 90GB estimate, believing that the gradual climb to 95–99GB indicates that final optimization is still a challenge behind the scenes.
Some longtime Final Fantasy fans, however, welcome the file size. As one user commented on social media, “If it’s this big, that means they didn’t cut corners.” That sentiment is echoed by others who see the sheer install size as proof that Square Enix refused to compromise visual quality just to squeeze the game onto a handheld-friendly device.
How This Could Affect Future Ports
The ramifications of FF7 Remake Intergrade’s size go beyond a single release. If a nearly 100GB game is now expected for AAA titles on Switch 2, it may influence:
- How publishers approach multiplatform launches
- Whether future large-scale productions even target the Switch 2
- Nintendo’s stance on storage upgrades and cartridge manufacturing
- Consumer expectations around physical vs digital ownership
- How developers optimize assets for handheld hardware
The Switch 2 may be capable of running AAA games with impressive fidelity, but storage constraints could become the system’s greatest bottleneck. The FF7 Remake situation may mark the beginning of a pattern, not an exception.
Looking Ahead to January 2026
Despite the controversies, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade remains one of the Switch 2’s most anticipated releases. The chance to take such a visually rich game on the go holds strong appeal, especially given the hybrid freedom the Switch platform is known for.
With a release date set for January 2026, players still have over a year to prepare — whether that means clearing space, upgrading storage, or choosing a digital-only approach.
One thing is certain: FF7 Remake Intergrade’s Switch 2 debut will be a defining moment for Nintendo’s next generation, testing not only the hardware’s capability but the patience and expectations of fans eager for large-scale gaming on the go.
